Working on getting more of these fresh hop reviews written up and posted, and with three more here to enjoy. With three different (fresh) hops in each! I feel like there’s been an abundance of Strata-hopped ones this year, but these three are all different.

Matchless Brewing – Easy Being Green Fresh Hop Hazy IPA

Though billed as a hazy IPA, at 5% ABV this fresh hop ale from Washington’s Matchless is really more of a hazy pale. There’s not really any description that I can find other than riffing on the Kermit the Frog song, but suffice to say this is brewed with fresh Triumph hops which might be the only one of that variety I’ll have this year.

Appearance: Golden color, reminds me of honey, moderately hazy. Somewhat choppy white head.

Smell: Fruit is the first impression here—sweet like dried papaya, pineapple, with brown sugar. Some wildflower, meadowfoam, but it’s somewhat muted.

Taste: Herbal, with like an 80-20 blend of clover and dandelion blossoms—freshly green with a chlorophyll sweetness and a touch of peppery spiciness. Fairly restrained, not a lot of “pop,” and I’m pretty sure there’s a little bit of butter at the back (diacetyl). Easy drinking and mild.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a little bit of fluff with a finish that drops off quickly.

Overall: Inoffensive, it’s fine, but it doesn’t stand out as much as the others I’ve had so far.

McMenamins – Thundercone Fresh Hop Pale Ale

This year’s Thundercone used fresh Mosaic hops, gathered in one day during the company’s annual “Running of the Brewers” which distributes the hops out to the various on-site breweries. As such, there are many versions of Thundercone out there, each slightly different due to variations in brewing equipment and such. Regardless, it’s brewed to 6.19% ABV. The description for this year’s reads:

Fresh Mosaic Hops from the fields of Oregon’s Sodbuster Farms were rushed to eagerly awaiting brewers within hours of the hops being picked. This fresh hop showcase boasts a smooth foundation, slight maltiness and an earthy, raw hop decadence. You may think you’re dreaming, but this beer is in reality a short-lived dream come true.

I had cans of Thundercone which were brewed and packaged by the Edgefield Brewery in Troutdale.

Appearance: Darker golden color, unfiltered haze, thick white head.

Smell: Big fresh green notes of cut grass, onion greens (yes, allium even when fresh), some musky notes. Chive blossoms.

Taste: Earthy and spicy, with a menthol character and a long bitterness that’s pleasant and still mild (compared to IPA) and leaves a fresh herbaceousness that’s really nice. Solid grainy pale ale base.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with lingering, minty-like finish.

Overall: It’s a good one this year, with an almost refreshing (minty) character to it.

Boneyard Beer – Out On Bale Imperial IPA

Yes, I also featured this in a recent article for The Bulletin, but I’m still giving my full review notes here. This imperial IPA was brewed with 400 pounds of fresh Simcoe hops from BC Hop Ranch of Woodburn at Boneyard’s Lake Place brewery (the original location), and is 8.4% ABV.

Appearance: Bright, golden color, unfiltered but not really hazy, with a rich white head.

Smell: Dank and fruity, a touch catty, with stone fruit, fleshy tropical fruit that’s probably a bit overripe, with a dash of wet pine greens.

Taste: Plum, tobacco, apple or pear (probably pear), navel orange rind/peel, touch of compost, maybe some chard or collard greens. A lot going on here, and it’s got a vibrant and slightly muddled flavor profile. Some alcohol esters in the stone fruit and floral notes. Fruity!

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, with a bit of heft to it, but a bright finish.

Overall: It’s good, and big, and what I’d expect a Boneyard fresh hop beer to be.